Isanti Soil & Water Conservation District
Serving the Residents and Conserving Our Natural Resources
Contact UsOur Mission
Forestry Workshops
Protecting your Woodlands Workshop will take place June 14th from 9am - 12pm at Prarie Restorations Inc. in Princeton. Experts will speak about buckthorn management, emerald ash borer prevention and management, and available forestry resources. You must register to attend by calling 320-983-2160.
A Forestry Open House will be help July 10th from 4pm to 7pm at the Sunken Ship Brewery in Princeton. Stop by anytime to get your questions related to forestry, woodland management, and tree health answer by experts.
Alum Treatment Completed on Blue Lake
Alum Treatment Success on Blue Lake!
New No-Till Drill Available to Rent
Rent the No-Till Drill
The rates to rent the drill are: Inside Isanti County: $15 per acre with a $175 minimum.
Outside Isanti County: $20 per acre with a $275 minimum. In addition, a $161.81 damage deposit is due at the time of rental. If the machine is returned in unsatisfactory condition such that the seed boxes require cleaning, a $100.00 cleaning fee will be added to the rental fee.
If you are interested in renting the no-till drill, call Matthew at 763-689-3271.
Progresses Made to Improve Green Lake's Water Quality
We have made a short storyboard that will take you through the progress made on Green Lake.
A Farm Built for Conservation and Community
In 2017, Tim and his wife launched their farm operation, which has steadily grown, culminating in the establishment of their market two years ago. The fresh meat they sell is sourced directly from their farm, where they raise cattle and chickens and grow corn, soybeans, and small grains. The market also serves a goal close to his wife, Renae’s, heart as she grew up in a more urban environment: “She wanted to be able to connect her people with stuff we’re doing on the farm,” Tim shares. This goal of connection shines through their work as they provide local goods to their community, both through their market and farm, while actively learning and sharing ways to produce sustainably.
Striving for conservation, Tim is willing to experiment with new practices on his land. Over the past two years, he has implemented strip-tilling to “reduce tearing up the soil completely and find ways to preserve a little bit of organic matter, carbon, and nutrients.” He is also incorporating cover crops to improve soil health and prevent erosion. Tim’s dedication to these practices demonstrates his commitment to sustainable farming and his vision of a thriving farm for future generations.
For Tim, conservation is about leaving the land better than he found it and ensuring future generations can continue farming sustainably. “Conservation means leaving something for my boys to find. I want them to have the same opportunities to do the same stuff I’ve been doing,” he reflects. By adopting and advocating for sustainable practices, Tim Braun sets an example, proving that the future of farming is filled with with knowledge, passion, and community support.
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Date :
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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For the latest happenings at the Isanti SCWD, please view or download our newsletter.
2024 was a busy year for Isanti SWCD. Click here to read all about our most recent conservation programs and priorities. We would like to send out a special thank you to all our Federal, State, and Local partners who support our mission to preserve, protect, and enhance water quality, soil, and other natural resources in Isanti County. We’re already planning great things for 2025, including having a new no-till drill and a tree planter available to rent, building upon our Isanti County farmer-led group, lakeshore restorations on Blue Lake and Skogman Lake, and a wetland restoration to protect Green Lake.
One of our conservation technicians got to speak with KBEK about their work. Todd Kulaf discussed the Isanti SWCD and his conservation project at Spectacle Lake. Thank you to KBEK for talking to us! If you missed it you can listen to it here.
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View a map of all completed SWCD projects. Click on individual projects to read more about them.We have made a lot of progress towards our goal of getting Green Lake off the impaired waterbodies list! In 2021, we began a 16-year grant program to improve the health of Green Lake. We have made a short storyboard to take you through everything we have done on Green Lake.
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Oak wilt, caused by the non-native fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum, is responsible for killing large numbers of oak trees annually in Minnesota. Oak Wilt is most severe in red oak group species such as Northern Red Oak and Northern Pin Oak. Residents can call the SWCD and the Isanti County Parks Department for names of contractors who can help with trees and root trenching on their property.The Isanti SWCD rents a seed drill suitable for planting native grasses and wildflowers. Cost is $12/acre. Rental must be within 20 miles of the City of Isanti. Rental has a $150 minimum fee within Isanti County. Rental minimum outside of Isanti county is $250. A $161.81 damage deposit is required at the time of rental. For safety reasons, we ask that you don't drive over 20 mph while towing the seeder. Call Matthew Remer at 763-689-3271 to schedule.
